It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to the CalJOBS website, to search for a job. I pretty much stopped looking at right after it had that little problem that allowed people who are not you to view the personal information that you put into the CalJOBS website.
At that time, I hadn’t given it very much of my information, so I had little to worry about. However, if I was one of the many people who had put a resume on CalJOBS, with all the details about where I worked, and when, and my home address and phone number… and I learned that strangers (who were not employers) were able to access it (and maybe even change it), I would have been extremely upset.
It’s the little things, like, I don’t know… website security… that let me know if I can trust a job website or not.
Anyway, today I decided to check out CalJOBS, just for the heck of it. I wasn’t expecting much, because all of my previous job searches at this website were disappointing. Not one job that I was qualified for appeared.
Today, after a few attempts while I tried to recall what my password was, I found something new at CalJOBS. They seem to have increased their security. I was asked to make a new user name, and given some minimal instructions about how to create one that would be …safer, I assume. Must make a new password, too. That’s kind of a shame, after all the time I spent trying to remember it!
Next is a drop down box that I must select a security question from. After choosing one, I have to enter the answer into not one, but two, boxes. This is followed by a second drop down box, where I must select from a different set of security questions. Again, I must put the answer to this second security question into two boxes.
Oh.. looks like I didn’t quite create a password that was up to their specifications. I try again. Nope. Two tries later, it is accepted.
Now, I am back to the page that will let me click on a button that says “Browse Jobs By Catagory”. The red text at the top of the page reminds me to log out if I am using a public computer. It also warns me that I need to access CalJOBS at least once every 60 days, if I would like employers to look at my resume. Interesting. Is this so the employers are certain that the applicant they are considering is still interested in the job? Or is this one more way that CalJOBS can enforce that people on Unemployment Insurance are continuing to search for jobs? Perhaps it’s a little bit of both.
I click on the bubble that says “Browse Jobs by Category”, and hope for the best. I am fully expecting to find CalJOBS to be the same desert it was last time.
This brings me to a page where there is a list of job categories, with a little number next to them to indicate how many jobs are hiding inside. Nothing says “Writer”. I click on the category “Arts, Design, Entertainment, Media”. Will this be close enough?
Although this category has several sub-categories, there are only four actual jobs here, according to what the little numbers say. Unfortunately, this turns out to be a lie, and there are only three actual jobs here.
* PV System Designer
I’ve no idea what this even means! Reading over the description doesn’t clarify much to me. Something about “preform engineering site visits”, “research local and national code requirements”, and “AutoCAD”. I don’t understand how this job could be considered part of “Arts, Design, Entertainment, Media”.
* Retail Project Merchandiser
Check out this flowery script: “There is a measurable amount of satisfaction in knowing that your ideas, talents, and experience can make a difference. (This particular company) and our (related?) companies embrace diversity and the development of a performance driven culture and company. We strive to attract the most talented candidates to join our team, because we value people as our most strategic and competitive asset. Simply put, we believe in our associates and invest in them accordingly.”
Sure, you do! Would you mind telling me what the job happens to be?
“Purpose: A Retail Project Merchandiser can be responsible for merchandising Client products at retail accounts to ensure Client standards are met. The ideal candidate is self-motivated and driven to succeed. This person should have strong communication skills, and the ability to build relationships with store personnel. They must possess excellent organizational skills and have the ability to work independently. Job duties vary from project to project and these associates are encouraged to only sign up for projects for which they possess the necessary skill set.
Job Responsibilities: * Distribution audits* New Item Cut Ins* Resets* Display Building* POS Placement* Pharmacy Detailing* Assembly* Mystery Shopping* Customer Relations* Reporting Administration* Safety Job Requirements * High School Diploma or G.E.D.* Strong analytical and problem solving skills* Strong communication skills both written and verbal* Strong critical thinking skills* Must be able to present information to store management as needed and be able to participate in meetings with other business partners* Must be able to prioritize effectively, work independently or as part of a project team to complete multiple tasks concurrently*”
Um… I still don’t know exactly what the job is. But, I’ve got enough information here to make me certain that it is not actually a job in “Arts, Design, Entertainment, Media”. Well, not really. I think this job might include setting up in store displays. Is that passing for “design” now?
Master Control Operator
My, that sounds powerful! “I am your Master Control Operator! Dance, minions, dance!”
This job happens to be from a company I applied to once before, years ago, before I started teaching. It’s a television news company. Last time, I was trying to get into what amounted to Data Entry. I got as far as the interview, and that was it. No job. Therefore, I won’t be applying for this one either. Especially since the job description says:
“If you are reliable, apply attention to detail and possess the ability to make decisions quickly under pressure, you may love this job.”
You may…. or you may not? This job wants a person who is already good at using whatever a “Harris automated system” happens to be. I don’t have a clue what that is.
Today’s search of the “Arts, Entertainment, Design, Media” category resulted in a big, fat, zero. I expected this result, but I am still disappointed.
There are 47 jobs in the “Education” category. Most of them seem to be part time jobs. The only two jobs for teachers of the Arts are going to pay “depending on experience”. One is for a “full time” lecturer, and the other is for a “part time” lecturer. Zero are asking for people to actually go into the schools, and teach Art, Music, or Drama to students. Sad. There are also a lot of ads for high school teachers of things like Science, Math, Agriculture, and assorted other things I cannot teach, even if I still wanted to teach, which I don’t.
There is a slightly terrifying ad wanting a “child care worker”. The job discription says: “The Childrens Activities Coordinator is responsible for the safe and appropriate care of children 6 years and older who are left at the Visitor Center for a brief time less than 3 hours while the parent/guardian is visiting an incarcerated friend or family member.”
It pays a little more than ten bucks an hour, and whoever gets this job “Must work every Sat. and Sun.and all major holidays.” This job is not for me. Imagine, sitting three hours in a prison environment, with a child that has never seen you before, as the child’s parent goes to see a relative who has been incarcerated. How does one answer the child’s inevitable questions about why he or she cannot go see said relative? This is a nightmare of a job.
In other words, CalJOBS has updated it’s security, but still isn’t offering any decent jobs for me.